COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – If a millage for a new Branch County Jail is passed August 7, 2018, it could lead to additional road patrol deputies thanks to a savings in maintenance costs.
A study into how much it has cost Branch County to maintain the current County Jail over the last decade was presented by Sheriff John Pollack on behalf of the Jail Millage Committee to the Branch County Board of Commissioners Thursday.
The study showed that Branch County has spent $934,000 on the jail over the last five years. That compares with only $286,000 that was spent between 2008 and 2012.
The study involved six maintenance line items involving equipment, building and kitchen repair and maintenance; capital outlays and out of county housing.
Pollack said due to a lack of space, $202,000 has been spent just in the last three years on sending inmates to other facilities.
If an August millage question for a new county jail passes, Pollack said the savings for maintenance could lead to additional deputies being placed on the road.
Commissioners Leonard Kolcz, Terri Norris and Ted Gordon spoke in favor of that idea. Commissioners decided on a 5-0 vote to bring forward the concept of using the savings from an approved jail millage question for road patrol deputies to next Tuesdays meeting at which time formal action is expected to be taken.
